AIB Cup Preview: Garryowen v St. Mary’s College
St. Mary’s College may have scooped the Shay Deering Memorial Trophy when these sides met in the league in October, but which one of these old rivals has the mettle to make it into the last-four of the AIB Cup?
AIB CUP QUARTER-FINAL: Saturday, February 3
GARRYOWEN v ST. MARY’S COLLEGE, Dooradoyle, 2.30pm
Referee: Simon McDowell (Ulster)
Previous AIB League/Cup Meetings: Played 18, Garryowen Won 9, Drawn 2, St. Mary’s College Won 7
At Dooradoyle: Played 9, Garryowen Won 6, St. Mary’s College Won 3
Most Recent Game: October 28, 2006 – St. Mary’s College 12 Garryowen 8, Templeville Road
League/Cup Form: Garryowen: LLWLL
St. Mary’s College: WWWLL
Garryowen – Notes: *They have played St. Mary’s College every season in the AIB League except 2004/05 – they have won just one of their last four league and cup matches against the Dubliners at Dooradoyle
*They beat Buccaneers 16-13 at Dooradoyle in the cup’s first round on January 13, and won the Munster Senior Cup this season, beating Cork Constitution 18-13 in the final a month ago
*They lost 23-14 at home to St. Mary’s College in last season’s AIB Cup semi-finals
*Twice All-Ireland League champions in 1991/92 and 1993/94, they have just lost four fixtures on the trot – for only the third time in league history
*They are currently in sixth spot in AIB League Division One, and are one of three Munster clubs left in the AIB Cup at this stage
2006/07 AIB League Top Points Scorer: Conor Kilroy 51 points
2006/07 AIB League Top Try Scorer: Ciaran O’Boyle 5 tries
St. Mary’s College – Notes: *This is their first trip to Limerick this season, a city where they have won four times on their six most recent visits
*Currently in thirteenth place in Division One, they lost all of their first six AIB League appearances at Dooradoyle before winning 20-6 in January 2000, but have lost just one of their last six league and cup games with Garryowen
*Last year’s cup runners-up, they conquered Cork Constitution, winning 16-9, in in this season’s first round on January 13
*They are one of three Leinster clubs pitched against Munster clubs in the AIB Cup quarter-finals – they have won their last three league and cup fixtures
*John McWeeney, their former Leinster and Ireland winger, has just become the all-time top try scorer in the AIB League
2006/07 AIB League Top Points Scorer: Jonathan Sexton 89 points
2006/07 AIB League Top Try Scorer: John McWeeney 3 tries